Social Funds Outperform the Market
The "do-gooder" funds are doing well themselves. One of the more interesting bits of information to come out of the recent turmoil on the stock market is the fact that social funds are actually outperforming.
Hyatt’s Sustainability Steps
Will Hyatt’s new Vice President of Environmental Affairs create "deep green" or "green washing"? Will either translate into brand equity?
Microfinance: Helping Yourself by Helping the Less Fortunate
Microfinance is the business of providing very small loans, or "microloans", to poor communities around the world in an effort to spur local entrepreneurship and community development. With most loans valued at less than $100, this is oftentimes all that is needed to jumpstart economic growth in impoverished areas. Given the World Bank estimates of 1.2 billion people…
The Captains of Industry
I am intrigued by Citigroup (C) and its recent pledge to commit $50 billion over the next ten years to address climate change. So far, this is hands-down the largest commitment to global warming that any company worldwide has put forth. This amount includes the $10 billion that the company has already committed to reducing…
The Sustainability Sweet Spot
Last week I attended a presentation with Andy Savitz, author of The Triple Bottom Line. As a veteran in the field of sustainability, Mr. Savitz has made a career out of assisting corporations in the design, development, and implementation of sustainability programs. With more pressure on today's corporate world in the "Age of Accountability," the…
Sustainability 101
In simple terms, sustainability is defined as achieving economic prosperity while simultaneously leaving no impact on the planet. Our planet would be no worse off after this prosperity is achieved than before. With all the environmental and geopolitical events surrounding us today, sustainability has become a focus of much of the private sector and has also become a buzzword…
McUnions in China
After a public accusation by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) that McDonald's (MCD) paid unlawfully low wages to employees, the international fast food institution offered an olive branch and agreed to work on establishing a union in Guangdong Province.
CSR: The Movement Gains Momentum
I recently read a smart and pertinent cover story by Paula L. Green at Global Finance Magazine about business' movement towards greater enactment of CSR and its importance to the bottom line now and in the future. Green discusses the impact of the United Nations Global Compact since its inception in July of 2000, and…